Maupiti's green island, white motu sandbar and lagoon from the air

Society Islands · Leeward

Maupiti,
no hotels,
no car hire.

Bora Bora's shape at a smaller scale, and a community that chose family pensions over resorts. No hotels, no car hire, no bank.

Maupiti and its motu from the air

1,302 people on a small high island in a wide lagoon with a single pass, Onoiau, so narrow that in a south swell the ferry cannot get in. Flights are small and not daily. Everything you do here, you arrange with your host, and you pay for it in cash.

01 · What you do

The beach, the mantas,
the summit.

Tereia, on the main island, is the one real beach: fine white sand and, at low tide, a channel of pale water you can wade across to Motu Auira. The water reaches mid-body, so wear reef shoes and keep the phone dry. Near the pass, reef manta rays come to be cleaned by small fish in less than ten metres of water, and groups of four or five are commonly seen from July to November. Pensions run the boat; Tiapaa Village charges 7,000 XPF a head for the manta-and-coral outing. Keep your distance and never dive down onto them.

The climb is Mount Teurafaatiu, 380 m, about 2.7 km and two and a half hours there and back from the village. The top sections are very steep and fitted with ropes; no guide is needed, but start around six to beat the heat and carry plenty of water. From the summit the whole lagoon lies below you, the pass, the motu, the airstrip, and the same island-in-a-lagoon shape as Bora Bora.

The loop road is nine or ten kilometres, flat, and takes a morning on a bike or a long walk: the Haranae petroglyphs, the marae at Vaiahu, the red cliffs above Tereia that you do not climb without a professional. The island's economy is watermelons and penu, stone pestles carved from the local basalt. Both are sold locally.

02 · Three Maupitis

A beach,
a manta,
a summit.

Tereia

Tereia

The beach and the wade. Low tide, reef shoes, a motu at the end of it.

The mantas

The mantas

A cleaning station in under ten metres inside the lagoon, snorkelable, best July to November. Maupiti Diving, the island's only club, takes four or five at a time.

The summit

Teurafaatiu at dawn: ropes near the top, exposure for anyone with vertigo, and the best viewpoint in the Leeward Islands.

03 · Getting in and staying

The pass decides
the ferry.

Air Tahiti flies in from Tahiti in about 55 minutes and from Raiatea and Bora Bora, but not every day and in small aircraft, so the flight schedule sets your dates. Book the pension first, then the seats, and travel light. The Apetahi Express ferry arrives at 14:55 on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday after calling at every other Leeward island, and leaves at 06:30 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. When a southerly swell runs, the outgoing current in the pass can exceed ten knots and sailings are cancelled. Never plan a tight connection around a boat into or out of Maupiti.

There are twelve guesthouses and nothing else. On the main island you can walk or cycle to everything; on the motu, pensions sell half board because there is nowhere else to eat. Pension Papahani and Tiapaa Village sit on Motu Tiapaa near the pass, fifteen minutes by boat from the airstrip; Pension Maupiti Island is on Motu Auira facing Tereia. Half board at Tiapaa Village is about €90 a person a night, transfers 1,000 XPF each way, cash only.

04 · Know before you go

The practical
part.

Getting there
Air Tahiti from Tahiti (55 min), Raiatea and Bora Bora, not daily. The airstrip is on Motu Tuanai; a boat takes about 30 minutes to the village. The ferry from Papeete costs 8,000–9,000 XPF and takes all day.Plan a night on Tahiti each way
Getting around
No car rental. Bikes from most pensions, a 9–10 km loop road, and boats for everything else, arranged through your host.Walking the loop takes a morning
Where to sleep
Twelve family pensions, on the main island and the motu. Most motu pensions include breakfast and dinner. Book the bed before the flight; there are few.No hotels, no overwater rooms
Eating
Where you sleep. We could not confirm a single restaurant operating in 2026, and the tourist board lists very few shops. Bring snacks and any special supplies.Fish of the day, every day
Best window
June to September are driest, about 66–92 mm of rain a month, and calmer for the wade to Motu Auira. December and January are wettest. Three to five nights, with a buffer.Mantas July–November
The rules
Cash for everything. A spare day for weather. Reef shoes. The island chose pensions over hotels; its rules follow from that.Twelve guesthouses, no hotels

05 · How to plan it

Four steps.

  1. 01

    Book the pension, then the flight

    In that order, with flexible dates either side.

  2. 02

    Climb first

    The summit on your first clear dawn, before the legs get lazy.

  3. 03

    Then the water

    A manta morning with the pension boat, an afternoon wading to Auira.

  4. 04

    Pair it with Bora Bora

    Maupiti first, Bora Bora last, and a spare night before any international flight.

06 · Who it does not suit

Not for
tight schedules.

A missed boat can cost a day. There are no restaurants, no nightlife, no air-conditioned comfort to speak of, and no cash machine to rescue you. People who need those things will find Maupiti thin. People who want the same lagoon anatomy as Bora Bora without the hotels, run by the people who live there, will find it is exactly what they were looking for.

07 · Who it suits

Who it
suits best.

Known for: A small high island in a wide lagoon, Bora Bora's shape at a smaller scale · Reef manta rays at a shallow cleaning station · Tereia beach and the wade to Motu Auira · A short, steep climb with a view over the whole lagoon · Family pensions only — no hotels.

Travellers who want a small island run by its residents, and are content with a bike, a snorkel and a pension dinner table. It suits snorkelers above all — the manta cleaning station is in less than 10 m of water — and anyone who has seen Bora Bora's prices and wants the same lagoon anatomy without them. Come with flexible dates.

Typical stay: 3–5 nights. Long enough for the climb, a manta morning, Tereia and the motu, and at least one spare day in case the weather moves a boat or a flight.

08 · Getting there and around

Getting there,
getting around.

International
Every international flight lands at Faa'a (PPT) on Tahiti; from there it is a domestic flight or a full day on the ferry. With so few Maupiti flights, plan a night on Tahiti on the way in or out rather than a same-day connection.1
Domestic flights
Air Tahiti flies to Maupiti from Tahiti (about 55 minutes), Raiatea and Bora Bora. The airstrip is on Motu Tuanai, off the main island.1
Booking
Flights do not run every day and the aircraft are small, so the flight schedule sets your dates. Book the pension first, then the seats, and travel light.2
Ferry
The Apetahi Express leaves Papeete at 06:30 on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday and reaches Maupiti at 14:55, after Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a and Bora Bora (Bora Bora–Maupiti 13:40–14:55). A Wednesday rotation arrives at 16:30. It leaves Maupiti at 06:30 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Fares from Tahiti: 8,000 XPF (≈ US$78) one way in school term, 9,000 XPF (≈ US$88) in holidays (timetable from 15 June 2026).3
The pass
Every boat enters through Onoiau, a narrow pass in the southern reef. When a south-east to south-west swell runs, the outgoing current can exceed ten knots and the pass becomes impassable; sailings are cancelled or delayed. Never plan a tight connection around a boat into or out of Maupiti.4
Maupiti Express
Tahiti Tourisme's 2026 listing for the Maupiti Express II names Bora Bora, Taha'a and Raiatea as its ports, three trips a week; any run to Maupiti is irregular. Confirm with the operator in Vaitape before relying on it.5
Airport boat & motu transfers
Passengers are taken by boat from the Motu Tuanai airstrip to the main island; Tahiti Tourisme gives about 30 minutes to the village. Motu pensions collect their guests; Tiapaa Village, for example, books a transfer at 1,000 XPF (≈ US$10) per person each way, cash only.6
Bikes & walking
A single road of about 9–10 km circles the main island. There is no car rental; most pensions rent bikes, and walking the whole loop takes a morning.7
Boats
Everything else — the motu, the manta site, the coral gardens — is by boat, arranged through your pension.8

09 · Where to stay

Which side
of the island.

Vai'ea & the main island. The village, the quay, the shop, the trailhead for the summit and the pensions within walking or cycling distance of all of it. Practical, and the only place to stay without depending on a boat. Best for: Independent travellers, hikers, short stays.

Tereia & Motu Auira. The main island's one real beach, with Motu Auira across a shallow channel you can wade at low tide. Pension Maupiti Island sits on Auira facing Tereia. Best for: Beach days, snorkeling.

Motu Tiapaa & the south. The southern motu near the pass: sand, coral gardens and quiet, a few minutes by boat from the main island. Pensions here include half board, as there is nowhere else to eat. Best for: Snorkelers, couples, doing very little.

10 · Accommodation

Beds,
by budget.

Pensions & guesthouses
The only kind of accommodation: Tahiti Tourisme says there are no luxury hotels or overwater bungalows, and lists twelve guesthouses, on the main island and the motu. Most motu pensions sell half board. Pension Papahani has four units on Motu Tiapaa, 15 minutes by boat from the airport; Tiapaa Village is on the same motu; Pension Maupiti Island, on Motu Auira, takes up to 12 guests. Examples: Pension Papahani, Tiapaa Village, Pension Maupiti Island.6Half board ≈ €90 (≈ 10,740 XPF / ≈ US$105) per person per night at Tiapaa Village, 2026 listing; transfers and tours extra

11 · In the water

Beaches, reef
and open water.

Tereia
Fine white sand, and the main island's only real beach. At low tide you can wade across the lagoon to Motu Auira; the water reaches mid-body, so wear reef shoes and keep phones dry.9Beach
Manta cleaning station
Reef manta rays come to be cleaned by small fish in less than 10 m of water inside the lagoon, near the Onoiau pass. Groups of four or five are commonly seen from July to November. Pensions run boat trips; at Tiapaa Village the manta-and-coral outing is 7,000 XPF (≈ US$69) per person (2026), gear not included. Keep your distance and don't dive down on them.10Snorkeling
Maupiti Diving
The island's only dive club. Groups of four or five at most; morning dives go to the manta site in the lagoon, afternoon ocean-side dives depend on swell and wind and can be cancelled. Cash only.8Diving
Fa'a'apu coral garden
A coral garden about 20 minutes away by boat; the name means 'orchard' in Tahitian, and it is a nursery for reef fish.11Snorkeling

12 · On land

Ashore,
between swims.

  1. 01

    Mount Teurafaatiu

    Hike. About 2.7 km and 2 h 30 there and back, with roughly 380 m of climbing from the village. The top sections are very steep and fitted with ropes; no guide is needed, but take care if you suffer from vertigo. Start around 6 am to beat the heat, with plenty of water.12

  2. 02

    Haranae petroglyphs

    Archaeology. Rock carvings on the island loop, a standard stop on a tour by bike or on foot.13

  3. 03

    Marae Vaiahu

    Archaeology. The marae Tahiti Tourisme singles out on Maupiti; combine it with the petroglyphs on a loop of the island.13

  4. 04

    Falaises rouges

    Viewpoint. The red cliffs above Tereia beach. Tahiti Tourisme warns they are dangerous to climb and a professional guide is essential.14

  5. 05

    Around the island

    Culture. The 9–10 km loop road passes the villages, the marae and the petroglyphs; Maupiti's economy is watermelons and penu, traditional stone pestles, made from local volcanic rock.15

13 · Food and shopping

What to eat,
and where.

Eat where you sleep. Motu pensions include breakfast and dinner, and their guests often take lunch at a neighbouring pension; beyond pension tables we could not confirm any restaurant operating in 2026, and Tahiti Tourisme lists only one. Tahiti Tourisme lists very few grocery stores, so bring snacks and any special supplies. Order the fish of the day. Everything is paid in cash.

Shopping. Little: a shop or two in the village. Local penu (stone pestles) and watermelon in season are the island's own products.

14 · Trip styles

One island,
several trips.

Families
Good for children who like water and don't mind a simple room. Tereia and the motu are shallow and calm; the manta trip suits confident swimmers. Choose a pension that cooks for families, and bring reef shoes, snacks and cash.
Honeymoons
If the aim is quiet, a motu pension with half board is hard to beat; if it is service and overwater rooms, stay on Bora Bora and visit Maupiti for a few nights first.
On a budget
Cheaper than Bora Bora, but half board, boat transfers and cash-only tours add up. The Apetahi Express is the cheapest way in; a main-island pension and a bike keep daily costs down.
Nightlife
There is none: dinner at the pension, stars, and an early start for the mountain.

15 · Weather by month

Month by month.

January

32° / 25° · sea 29°

Rain about 251 mm. Crowds low, prices low.

February

32° / 25° · sea 29°

Rain about 251 mm. Crowds very low, prices low.

March

32° / 25° · sea 29°

Rain about 192 mm. Crowds low, prices low.

April

32° / 25° · sea 29°

Rain about 153 mm. Crowds low, prices low.

May

31° / 25° · sea 29°

Rain about 127 mm. Crowds moderate, prices low.

June

30° / 24° · sea 28°

Rain about 92 mm. Crowds moderate, prices low.

July

30° / 24° · sea 27°

Rain about 66 mm. Crowds high, prices moderate.

August

30° / 24° · sea 27°

Rain about 79 mm. Crowds high, prices moderate.

September

30° / 24° · sea 27°

Rain about 69 mm. Crowds moderate, prices low.

October

30° / 24° · sea 27°

Rain about 137 mm. Crowds moderate, prices low.

November

31° / 25° · sea 28°

Rain about 176 mm. Crowds low, prices low.

December

31° / 25° · sea 28°

Rain about 313 mm. Crowds low, prices low.

Maupiti (Petei, station 98728001) — Météo-France normals 1991–2020 (temperatures 1993–2020)16. Sea temperature17. Crowds and prices are editorial scores (1 = low, 5 = high). Crowds follow ISPF's 2024 monthly tourist-nights curve for French Polynesia (lowest January–February and November, peak July, high June and August–October) and French Polynesian school holidays, which fill the few pension beds early. Pension rates barely move with the season, so the price score stays low. Sea temperatures are for Bora Bora, 40 km east — no separate series for Maupiti was found..

16 · Trip length

How long,
and with what.

Three to five nights, with a buffer. Maupiti is the end of the line: the Apetahi Express finishes its Leeward run here, and Air Tahiti links it to Bora Bora, Raiatea and Tahiti. Pair it with Bora Bora — Maupiti first for the quiet, Bora Bora last for the comforts — and keep a spare night before any international flight, because the pass and the thin flight schedule both have a vote.

17 · Maupiti vs Bora Bora

Maupiti
or Bora Bora?

Getting there
Maupiti: 55-min flight, not daily; or the ferry, if the pass allows18
Bora Bora: 50-min flight, several a day; ferry three times a week19
People
Maupiti: 1,302 residents (2022)20
Bora Bora: 10,758 (2022)20
Where you sleep
Maupiti: Family pensions only; no hotels, no overwater rooms15
Bora Bora: Overwater resorts, mid-range hotels and pensions21
The lagoon
Maupiti: Mantas in under 10 m; a pass that closes in big swell11
Bora Bora: Wider, busier, with ray-and-shark tours and dive centres
On land
Maupiti: Teurafaatiu, 380 m: 2 h 30 return, ropes, no guide needed12
Bora Bora: Pahia, 661 m, with a guide; Otemanu off limits22
Money
Maupiti: No bank, no ATM: cash for everything23
Bora Bora: Banks in Vaitape; cards taken at the resorts

Verdict. Bora Bora for comfort, choice and reliable connections; Maupiti for the same shape of island without the hotels or the crowds — if you can bring cash and give it a spare day. The Bora Bora guide

18 · Questions

Asked
before booking.

  1. 01

    Is there an ATM on Maupiti?

    No. Tahiti Tourisme's 2026 listings say there is no bank or ATM, so bring enough cash for the whole stay, including transfers, tours and meals.

  2. 02

    Are there any hotels?

    No. Accommodation is in family pensions on the main island and the motu; Tahiti Tourisme lists twelve. Book the room before the flight — beds are few.

  3. 03

    Can I take the ferry?

    Yes: the Apetahi Express from Papeete via Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a and Bora Bora, arriving 14:55 on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. In heavy south swell the Onoiau pass can stop it, so keep a buffer day.

  4. 04

    Do I need a guide for the summit?

    No, but it is steep, with rope sections near the top. Allow about 2 h 30 there and back, start at dawn and carry plenty of water.

  5. 05

    When can I see the mantas?

    Sightings are likely but not guaranteed; groups of four or five are commonly seen at the cleaning stations from July to November. Go with a pension boat or Maupiti Diving.

  6. 06

    When is the best time to go?

    June to September are the driest months (about 66–92 mm of rain a month at Petei) and the seas are generally calmer for the walk to Motu Auira; December and January are the wettest.

Sources · last verified 14 October 2026(29)
  1. Tahiti Tourisme: Getting to and around in Maupiti (55-min flight, airport on Motu Tuanai) ↗
  2. Far & Away Adventures: How to get to Maupiti: flights and ferry (flights not daily; small aircraft) ↗
  3. Tuatea Ferries / Apetahi Express: Horaires Apetahi Express à partir du 15 juin 2026 ↗
  4. Multihulls World: Maupiti, a Polynesian jewel (the pass: current over ten knots in south swell) ↗
  5. Tahiti Tourisme: Maupiti Express II (2026 listing: Bora Bora, Taha'a, Raiatea; 3 trips a week) ↗
  6. Tahiti Tourisme: Tiapaa Village (half board €90 pp; transfers 1,000 XPF; manta trip 7,000 XPF; open 2026) ↗
  7. Le Routard: Maupiti — guide (road 9–10 km, no car rental, Teurafaatiu 372 m) ↗
  8. Tahiti Tourisme: Maupiti Diving (updated 16 Jul 2026) ↗
  9. Tahiti Tourisme: Plage de Tereia (updated 8 Mar 2023) ↗
  10. IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (Important Shark and Ray Areas): Maupiti ISRA factsheet — reef manta ray cleaning stations ↗
  11. Tahiti Tourisme: Diving in Maupiti (manta cleaning station under 10 m; Fa'a'apu) ↗
  12. Tahiti Rando: Rando Maupiti — sommet (Mont Teurafaatiu): 2.7 km, 2h30, +380 m ↗
  13. Tahiti Tourisme: What to do in Maupiti ↗
  14. Tahiti Tourisme: Falaises rouges (Maupiti) ↗
  15. Tahiti Tourisme: Maupiti — island page (11 km², Teurafaatiu 380 m, no luxury hotels or overwater bungalows) ↗
  16. Météo-France: Fiche climatologique — Petei, Maupiti (98728001), statistiques 1991–2020 et records ↗
  17. seatemperature.info: Bora Bora water temperature — monthly averages (aggregator; nearest published series to Maupiti) ↗
  18. Air Tahiti: Maupiti — flight duration 0h55, distance 307 km (figures from the airline's indexed page; the page blocks automated access) ↗
  19. Air Tahiti: Flights to Bora Bora ↗
  20. ISPF: Recensement de la population 2022 — populations légales par commune et commune associée ↗
  21. Tahiti Tourisme: Bora Bora hotels (FAQ: overwater bungalow prices) ↗
  22. Tahiti Tourisme: Mont Pahia ↗
  23. Tahiti Tourisme: Pension Papahani (Motu Tiapaa; 'no bank, no ATM'; updated 6 Aug 2026) ↗
  24. ISPF: Le bilan du tourisme de l'année 2024 (Points Études et Bilans n° 1489) — monthly tourist nights ↗
  25. Tuatea Ferries / Apetahi Express: Tarifs Apetahi Express (période scolaire / vacances) ↗
  26. Tahiti Tourisme: Maupiti — practical information ↗
  27. Tahiti Tourisme: Tahitian guesthouses on Maupiti (12 listed) ↗
  28. Tahiti Tourisme: Pension Maupiti Island (Motu Auira; updated 3 Sep 2026) ↗
  29. Tahiti Tourisme: Where are The Islands of Tahiti? (time difference) ↗

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